Although the increases in the compensation by college and university presidents represent a negligible percentage of their institutions’ budgets, they do very clearly set a baseline for the compensation received by other administrators—their subordinates and the subordinates of their subordinates–and reflect the continuing corporatization of our institutions as it is manifested in the broader increases in the number of administrators and administrative staff.

 

■ Gordon Gee, Ohio State
2011: Total Compensation, $1,992,221: Base Salary, $814,157; Bonus Pay, $296,786; Deferred Compensation, Set Aside, $881,278.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 1.

2012: Total Compensation: $1,899,420; Base Salary, $830,439.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 3.

2012 Comment: His compensation declined marginally, but he dropped three places in the rankings because two other presidents, at Penn State and at Auburn, resigned with very large retirement packages. After he was forced out at OSU president in 2013, Gee’s retirement deal as President Emeritus has dwarfed any previous deals, making him, by a very wide margin, the highest public university “non-president” in history.

2013: Total Compensation: $6,057,615; Base Salary, $851,303.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 1.

2013 Comment: Gee continues to be the geeky symbol of administrative excess. This profile of his compensation does not include what he will receive in the newly created position of President Emeritus, which comes with a five-year contract—which may or may not commence when he finishes his stint as Interim President at West Virginia University.

 

■ Gregory Williams/Santa Ono, University of Cincinnati

2011: Total Compensation, $510,000: Base Salary, $410,000; Deferred Compensation, Paid, $100,000.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 60.

2012: Total Compensation: $718, 765; Base Salary, $452,864.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 18.

2012 Comment: He resigned under pressure, and he rose 42 places in the rankings.

Williams, 2013: Total Compensation: $331,889.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 189.

Ono, 2013: Total Compensation: $393,832.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 138.

2013 Comment: Their combined salaries for 2013 total $725,721, which would rank them #25 in the nation among public university presidents.

 

■ Ronald M. Berkman, Cleveland State

2011: Total Compensation, $630,000: Base Salary, $400,000; Bonus Pay, $160,000; Deferred Compensation, Set Aside, $70,000.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 24.

2012: Total Compensation: $630,000; Base Salary, $400,000.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 39.

2012 Comment: His compensation remained the same and he dropped 15 places in the rankings.

2013: Total Compensation: $667,500; Base Salary, $430,000.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 36.

2013 Comment: Berkman’s compensation increased by more than $37,000 and his national ranking rose three spots.

 

■ David Hopkins, Wright State University

2011: Total Compensation, $502,088: Base Salary, $379,754; Bonus Pay, $73,334; Deferred Compensation, Set Aside, $50,000.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 63.

2012: Total Compensation: $625,606; Base Salary, $385,254.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 41.

2012 Comment: He has risen 22 places in the rankings over the past year.

2013: Total Compensation: $646,311; Base Salary, $400,000.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 44.

2013 Comment: Hopkins’ ranking dropped three spots nationally, even though his compensation increased by more than $20,000. His ranking did, however, rise one spot statewide.

 

■ Lester A. Lefton, Kent State University

2011: Total Compensation, $571,970: Base Salary, $401,576; Bonus Pay, $170,394.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 37.

2012: Total Compensation: 624,248; Base Salary, $409,608.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 43.

2012 Comment: He has dropped six places in the rankings, even though his compensation has increased by more than $52,000.

2013: Total Compensation: $635,843; Base Salary, $417,800.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 46.

2013 Comment: Lefton dropped another three spots in the national rankings, even though his compensation increased by more than $11,000.

 

■ Carol A. Cartwright, BGSU/Mary Ellen Mazey, BGSU

2011: Total Compensation, $388,823: Base Salary, $375,000; Deferred Compensation, Set Aside, $13,823,.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 109.

2012: Total Compensation: $427,637; Base Salary, $375,120.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 115.

Mazey ranks six places lower than her predecessor, even though her compensation is more than $39,000 higher than her predecessor’s.

2013: Total Compensation: $600,149; Base Salary, $382,622.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 55.

2013 Comment: Mazey’s compensation increased by about $172,500, and her national ranking jumped 60 spots. Last year she was the lowest paid of the presidents of the ten largest public universities in Ohio; now she’s in the middle of the pack, fifth or sixth, depending on how you calculate the presidential compensation at UC.

 

■ David C. Hodge, Miami University

2011: Total Compensation, $430,000: Base Salary, $380,000; Deferred Compensation, Set Aside, $50,000.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 83.

2012: Total Compensation: $546,481; Base Salary, $399,228.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 64.

2012 Comment: He has risen 19 places in the rankings.

2013: Total Compensation: $596,481; Base Salary, $410, 856.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 57.

2013 Comment: Hodge’s compensation increased by $50,000 and his national ranking rose another seven spots.

 

■ Roderick J. McDavis, Ohio University

2011: Total Compensation, $429,400: Base Salary, $383,000; Deferred Compensation, Paid, $45,600.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 84.

2012: Total Compensation: $467,109; Base Salary, $390,321.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 90.

2012 Comment: He has dropped six places in the rankings, even though his compensation has increased by more than $37,000.

2013: Total Compensation: $596,024; Base Salary, $425,000.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 58.

2012 Comment: McDavis’ compensation increased by more than $118,000, and his national ranking rose 32 spots.

 

■ Lloyd A. Jacobs, University of Toledo

2011: Total Compensation, $542,700: Base Salary, $392,700; Deferred Compensation, Set Aside, $150,000..

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 47.

2012: Total Compensation: $575,943; Base Salary, $392,700.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 54.

2012 Comment: He has dropped seven places in the rankings, even though his compensation has increased by more than $33,000.

2013: Total Compensation: $585,211; Base Salary, $392,700.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 63.

2013 Comment: Jacobs’ compensation increased by more than $9,000, but his ranking fell nine spots nationally and four in Ohio.

 

■ Luis M. Proenza, University of Akron

2011: Total Compensation, $492,152: Base Salary, $405,000; Bonus Pay, $89,152.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 66.

2012: Total Compensation: $533,843; Base Salary, $425,250.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 68.

2012 Comment: He has dropped two places in the rankings, even though his compensation has increased by more than $41,000.

2013: Total Compensation: $547,150; Base Salary, $425,250.

Rank among Public University Presidents in the U.S.: 73.

2012 Comment: Proenza’s compensation increased by more than $13,000, but his national ranking dropped another five spots.